I don't particularly enjoy the messiness of soup but I do think kids need to learn how to use a spoon so I do serve it, more in the winter. I give less broth to the younger ones and use lots of crackers to soak it up for the older ones. I serve vegetable soup most often as it's a great way to get all the food groups in them. I buy the knorr vegetable "gel pucks"...you dissolve in water and then add whatever veggies you like. I add cabbage, carrots, celery and a bit of hamburger. They love it. Thankfully they like chili/stew better so I serve that more often than soup. It's such a cheap meal too!!